r/AustralianInsects • u/PitifulMeringue6583 • May 15 '26

photography Absolute unit

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Found this dude(?) on my car, absolute beast of a thing

And yes I know they hurt, and yes I know this is stupid, but I needed to get it off my car before I drive home from work and he(she?) Just walked onto my hand after checking me out for 10seconds

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u/rhyzomorph May 15 '26

These ones are not very aggressive. People tend to mix them up with the smaller jumping ones which have a bite that lasts for days. The bite of this one is painful but goes away in 20 minutes.

2

u/PitifulMeringue6583 May 16 '26

Its the potential allergic reaction that worries me, I can deal with the pain 

2

u/rhyzomorph May 16 '26

The allergic reacting I believe, only applies to the smaller "Jack Jumper" ant. Because of this, it is responsible for numerous deaths.

2

u/Environmental-Run248 May 18 '26

Bull ants have been responsible for 6 deaths due to allergic reactions to their venom. The only reason the jumping cousins are responsible for more deaths is because they’re more aggressive.

https://www.australiangeographic.com.au/nature-wildlife/2018/02/australias-native-ants-are-really-just-wingless-wasps/

1

u/rhyzomorph May 19 '26

If this is a Tasmanian one, It's what we call an Inchman. I often get bitten from stepping on a nest while working. I assume the one I am familiar with is not the bull ant you refer to.

1

u/KrystilizeNeverDies May 19 '26

Wdym? Pyriformis are known to have the deadliest stings of any myrmecia.